The original documents are located in Box D28, folder “Introduction of Rogers Morton at GOP Dinner, Grand Rapids, MI, November 12, 1969” of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Introduction of Rogers Morton at GOP Dinner. No_v~b«tr_p, 1969 at Grand Rapids, Michigan
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT A
MAN I CONSIDER TO BE A CONSUMATE POLITICIAN -- THAT IS, A
MAN TO WHOM POLITICS IS AN ART, AS INDEED IT SHOULD BE TO ALL
WHO PRACTICE THE ART OF GOVERNMENT. ROGERS MORTON IS A MAN
TO THE MANNER BORN. IN SHORT, HE WAS BORN TO BE A POLITICIAN •••
BORN TO POLITICS IN THE BLUE-GRASS COUNTRY OF KENTUCKY ••• AND
RAISED ON POLITICS IN THE BORDER STATE OF MARYLAND.
Digitized from Box D28 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library Rogers Morton/2
ROGERS MORTON IS A REMARKABLE MAN -- THE KIND OF MAN
WHO MAKES A MABK FOR HIMSELF REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE PUTS HIS
HAND TO. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE UNITED STATES ENTERED WORLD
WAR II , ROGERS MORTON ENTERED THE ARMY AS A PRIVATE. WHEN HE
WAS SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE, ROGERS MORTON WAS A CAPTAIN.
AT THE AGE OF 33, HE WAS ALREADY PRESIDENT OF A MAJOR BUSINESS
FIRM.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1962 THAT ROGERS MORTON WENT INTO
POLITICS. BUT WHERE OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS GRADUALLY WEAR Rogers Morton/3
A GROOVE IN THE POLITICAL POWER STRUCTURE JUST BY BEING AROUND
FOR A LONG nME, ROGERS MORTON HAS BECOME A POWER IN JUST A
FEW YEARS TIME.
YOU'D BETTER BE NICE TO ROGERS. NOT ONLY IS HE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL QIAIRMAN; HE IS ALSO A MEMBER 8F THE HOUSE
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, WHICH HANDLES ALL TAX LEGISLATION.
SERIOUSLY, ROGERS' RISE IN POLITICS IS QUITE
REMARKABLE. SINCE 1964 HE HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF A BUSINESSMEN'S
H # LUNCH WITH JERRY FQRD PROGRAM AT THE U.S, CAPITOL IN WASHINGTOll, Rogers Morton/4
A PROGRAM AIMED AT ACQUAINTING BUSINESSMEN WITH REPUBLICAN
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP. IN
1967 HE BECAME CHAIRMAN OF A PROGRAM KNOWN AS REPUBLICANS
SPEAK ON VITAL PROBLEMS, WHICH SCHEDULED REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN
TO SPEAK ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. HE ALSO HAS SERVED AS SECRETARY
OF THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE AND THE
CAPITOL HILL CLUB, A SOCIAL CLUB FOR REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON.
ONE OF nlE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED FROM ROGERS IS HOW
A REPUBLICAN GETS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN A DEMOCRATIC DISTRlCT, Rogers Morton/5
BECAUSE THAT'S HIS OWN SITUATION IN THE FIRST DISTRICT OF
MARYLAND. SO IN THE SPRING OF 1968 ROGERS WAS DIRECTOR OF
THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES CONFERENCE.
ROGERS ' MOST EXCITING TIME IN POLITICS CAME A
BIT LATER. HE SERVED AS FLOOR MANAGER FOR RICHARD NIXON AT
THE 1968 CONVENTION AT MIAMI BEACH AND DELIVERED THE SPEECH
WHICH PLACED SPIRO AGNEW IN NOMINATION FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.
DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT FOLLOWED, ROGERS WAS COORDINATOR OF
THE NIXON FOR PRESIDENT COMMITtEE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND. Rogers Morton/6
ROGERS MORTON IS A TAKE-CHARGE GUY. WHEN HE BECAME
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CHAIRMAN LAST SPRING, HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN
REORGANIZING THE NAT'IONAL HEADQUARTERS AND BROUGHT FORTH A
SHINY NEW STREAMLINED PRODUCT.
HERE HE IS ••• A BIG MAN IN FAR M8RE TUN PHYSICAL
STATURE ••• THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CHAIRMAN AND OUR SPEAKER FOR
THE EVENING, CONGRESSMAN ROGERS C. B. MORTON.
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